Take a photo of a barcode or cover
alisarae's Reviews (1.65k)
Joyful and deeply sweet with a grounding in the bitter realities of life. It's like Mary Oliver with an edge.
Convincing myself to finish was like pulling teeth.
Alright alright, it wasn't thaaat bad, but I couldn't resist using the expression.
Really though, I love a good character-driven book, but the word "driven" implies movement, and there was very little of that. Let's call this a character-saturated book. I thought the idea of the novel--2nd gen immigrant kids grappling with never being able to satisfy their parents nor ever being able to satisfy white Britain--was better than the actual reading experience. In the end, I am glad I stuck it out to get to a sense of resolution.
Alright alright, it wasn't thaaat bad, but I couldn't resist using the expression.
Really though, I love a good character-driven book, but the word "driven" implies movement, and there was very little of that. Let's call this a character-saturated book. I thought the idea of the novel--2nd gen immigrant kids grappling with never being able to satisfy their parents nor ever being able to satisfy white Britain--was better than the actual reading experience. In the end, I am glad I stuck it out to get to a sense of resolution.
If you are in the mood for outrageous drama and gossip, with a healthy appreciation of haute couture and East Asian cuisine, this series is perfect.
I love that Kitty Pong has an attitude and an opinion in this book.
I love that Kitty Pong has an attitude and an opinion in this book.
The book built from something incredibly dull to something interesting, funny, sincere, and engaging. I enjoyed it and I can see why it's such a hit in literature classes—there's a lot of possible angles to think about and explore. I'm glad I read it (even with its machismo overtones).
One of the most fascinating stories I have ever read.
I always see this on lists of best true crime, but I was waiting for the right moment to read it. Today on my flight from São Paulo to San Francisco, 13 hours, it was the right monent. I listened to the audio on 1.5x and it fit just right with the layovers and naps.
This story is crazier than Girl With a Dragon Tattoo, plus there are red herrings at every turn, but the catch is that it all REALLY HAPPENED. One of the craziest true cases I have ever heard, by far.
Also, learning a bit about the Japanese judicial system was interesting. It is very different than in the US or England.
This story is crazier than Girl With a Dragon Tattoo, plus there are red herrings at every turn, but the catch is that it all REALLY HAPPENED. One of the craziest true cases I have ever heard, by far.
Also, learning a bit about the Japanese judicial system was interesting. It is very different than in the US or England.
A wonderfully written and honest memoir about a heartbreaking subject—what it is like for a parent to watch their child become addicted to drugs. David Sheff set his son Nic up for success, yet Nic still became addicted to meth and every other kind of hard drug. How does a parent deal with that grief, loss, anger, fear?
It was particularly interesting to hear this from a father’s perspective. I think so often we hear about a mother’s worry and fear for her child, maybe because we expect to hear that from a mother.
This would be a great book to recommend to parents and family members in similar situations. It would be encouraging to know that they are not the only ones walking this path. Besides it being so honest, realistic, and a path that one could follow, it had good insights from a parent who has been there before. One insight that I hung on to was that relapses are part of the recovery process, and that every step taken towards rehab, etc, statistically does help in the long run.
It was particularly interesting to hear this from a father’s perspective. I think so often we hear about a mother’s worry and fear for her child, maybe because we expect to hear that from a mother.
This would be a great book to recommend to parents and family members in similar situations. It would be encouraging to know that they are not the only ones walking this path. Besides it being so honest, realistic, and a path that one could follow, it had good insights from a parent who has been there before. One insight that I hung on to was that relapses are part of the recovery process, and that every step taken towards rehab, etc, statistically does help in the long run.
2018 RE-READ: Still loved everything avout this story just as much as the first time!! Some of the slang has aged though.
— — — — —
LOVED THIS SO MUCH!! Completely lives up to the hype. Fantastically written from the first to the last word.
I didn't know an ounce of the plot before I started it, so I'll keep it that way for you. But if you are looking for a way to look at BLM that cuts through mass media pushing and pulling, then you should for sure read this book.
Another thing I want to mention is that I ADORED the family dynamics of the main character Starr. Her parents are loving, involved, they fight and make up, they have strong boundaries, and they act like real parents. I mention this because I read a lot of YA and parents usually act like they do ln the Disney channel: they are caricatural airheads, they give disapproving glances with zero consequences, they are non-existant, or they are not present in their kids' lives. So I think it is really cool and healthy to see some good parents who are super involved in the story.
As always, audio narrator Bahni Turpin delivered a stunning performance.
— — — — —
LOVED THIS SO MUCH!! Completely lives up to the hype. Fantastically written from the first to the last word.
I didn't know an ounce of the plot before I started it, so I'll keep it that way for you. But if you are looking for a way to look at BLM that cuts through mass media pushing and pulling, then you should for sure read this book.
Another thing I want to mention is that I ADORED the family dynamics of the main character Starr. Her parents are loving, involved, they fight and make up, they have strong boundaries, and they act like real parents. I mention this because I read a lot of YA and parents usually act like they do ln the Disney channel: they are caricatural airheads, they give disapproving glances with zero consequences, they are non-existant, or they are not present in their kids' lives. So I think it is really cool and healthy to see some good parents who are super involved in the story.
As always, audio narrator Bahni Turpin delivered a stunning performance.
AHHHH this is the best fantasy I have read in a very long time! I am so so so distraught at having only part of the book. WANT WANT WANT WANT.
Spectacular.
Absolutely spectacular.
This is a character-driven novel and the thought processes behind the actions of the characters are so spot-on realistic, so brilliantly articulated, that many times I thought, "I have done that for the same reason, only I myself didn't know what the reason was until just now."
The audio narration is also excellent. The only problem is if, like me, you have trouble keeping characters' names and histories fixed in your mind when you listen to books, then maybe it would be better to read this book. There are a LOT of characters.
Absolutely spectacular.
This is a character-driven novel and the thought processes behind the actions of the characters are so spot-on realistic, so brilliantly articulated, that many times I thought, "I have done that for the same reason, only I myself didn't know what the reason was until just now."
The audio narration is also excellent. The only problem is if, like me, you have trouble keeping characters' names and histories fixed in your mind when you listen to books, then maybe it would be better to read this book. There are a LOT of characters.